Electric coupling and circuit-closer



(No Model.)

W5.. H. BAKER. ELECTRIC GOUPLING AND CIRCUIT GLOSBR.I

Patented July Z, 1889,.

N. PETERS. Pbowmhngmpw, wmmngw", D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM H. BAKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC COUPLING AN D- CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,331, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed March 22, 1889. Serial No. 304,366. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VILLIAM II. BAKER, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Couplings and Circuit- Closers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an exterior elevation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is -one of the central cores or plugs detached. Fig. 4. is an end view of one of the completed sections. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

The object ot' this invention is to provide a novel and simple electric coupling and circuit-closer for electric wires of railway-cars, so that it can be readily separated when t-he cars are uncoupled, and so that in case any one or more cars of a train become detached the engineer will be instantly notiiied. This.

is accomplished by means of the device hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, a a indicate the shell or exterior of the device, which is made in two parts and separable at or about the middle. As the two sections are identical in construction, a description of one of them will be sufiicient.

The shell a is provided with a core b, which at its inner end is liush with the exterior section, and its outer end projects, as shown, to form a strong attachment of the wire c thereto. This core is cut away or grooved, as shown at Fig. l5, to permit of the attachment of the projecting bar e on one side and the spring-bar CZ on the opposite side.

The bar e is provided with anotch f, adapted to receive and engage a corresponding curved projection g on the spring-bar d, so as to lock and hold the two parts a a together when in use. The spring-bar d is also provided with a cross-bar or head g as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of greater certainty in closing the circuit when the sections are separated, which is accomplished by means of the pin h, which passes through'l the core and is permanently attached to or connected with the bar e. The bars d e are attached to the central core by means of .a suitable number of screws, and these attaching-screws c and j may also be used as binding-posts; but separate binding-post-s may bc supplied, if desired.

Vhen the sections are together, as shown at Figs. l and 2, the bar e lifts the bar d away from the pin h, so as to break the cross-connection and leave the main connection of the wires through the coupler perfect or unbroken.

Whenever the sections a a are either designedly or accidentally separated, the springbar d will drop into connection with the pin h, and thus complete a circuit through said pin and ring the alarm-bell carried by the engine, it being understood that the wires c are carried over the top of the car and connected with the alarm apparatus on the engine in the usual manner; and it will be also understood that the wires c have the usual branches connecting with its circuit-breaker, which is operated by the conductors bell-cord in the usual manner. The device here shown does not change the ordinary operation of these parts, it being for the purpose of making a ready connection of the wires already upon each car and to furnish a means for their ready and safe detachment when the cars are separated accidentally or by design, as the sections a a will separate before producing any excessive strain upon the wires connected with each end of the car, and as the two are alike it is immaterial which end of the car is in advance or toward the engine.

W'hen the parts are connected, the springbar d is lifted out of contact with the pin h, and there is sufficient spring-pressure to hold the two parts together by means of the notches and projections f g. When they are separated, the spring-bar d drops into contact with the pin h, so as to short-cut the circuit at that point and give the necessary alarm in case of their accidental separation.

The shell or exterior cylinder is best made of hard or vulcanized rubber, and the core may be made of the same material or of wood, and the bars are ordinarily made of brass; but any of the various materials used in the construction and operation of this class of apparatus may be used.

I do not broadly claim an electric coupling comprising two sections each having a core, spring-plates, and metallic strips having contact-pins. My invention differs from the IOO prior devices in that the spring-bar of each Asection serves to lock the sections together and also to inake the connection with the pin and vclose the circuit When the sections are separated, thereby dispensing with independent spring-latches.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An electrical coupling and circuit-closer for electric Wires of cars, consisting of two` similar shells a. a', each comprising the core I), having the conducting-pin 71, passing transversely through it, the progectlng bar c, se-

cured to one side of the core and having a 2. An electric coupling and circuit-closer forelectric Wires of cars, consisting of two similar shells a a', adapted to abut at their adjacent ends and each comprising a central core Z), having its opposite sides longitudinally cut away or grooved and terminating flush with the inner end of its shell, an oblique conductor-pin 7L, passing transversely through the core, the bar e, secured in one cut-away or grooved side projecting beyond the core and provided With a notch f, and the spring-bar d, secured in the cutaway or grooved part of the core directly opposite the notched bar, serving to rest on the conductorpin to close the circuit, and having the projection g to engage a notched bar, substantially as described.

lVlLLIAM H. BAKER.

Witnesses:

HARRY T. JONES, ALBERT H. ADAMS. 

